Man charged over Sheffield toddler’s death

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A man contracted to carry out maintenance work at a block of flats in Sheffield where a two-year-old girl fell to her death has been charged with gross negligence manslaughter.

Robert Warner, aged 44, was arrested after Ryaheen Banimuslem plunged to her death from the fourth floor of the Wicker Riverside apartment on North Bank, off The Wicker, while playing.

The young girl fell 60ft after falling through a glass balcony barrier panel which was missing.

Today the Crown Prosecution Service revealed that charges have now been brought - one year on after the tragedy.

Mark Auty, Specialist Prosecutor in the Crown Prosecution Service Special Crime Division, said: “I have carefully reviewed all evidence in relation to the death of a two-year-old girl in Sheffield who tragically fell from the fourth floor of an apartment block where she lived in June 2012.

“Ryaheen Banimuslem was playing with her older brother in a communal garden in the housing development, when she fell through an area of the fence surrounding the fourth floor, which was missing a glass panel.

“I am satisfied that there is sufficient evidence and it is in the public interest to charge Robert Warner, who was contracted to carry out maintenance work in the apartments, for gross negligence manslaughter.

“This decision was taken in accordance with the Code for Crown Prosecutors.

“I extend my sympathies to the family of Ryaheen Banimuslem.

“Robert Warner has been summonsed to appear at Sheffield Magistrates Court on 13 August 2013.”

In the wake of the death residents claimed vandals had smashed glass panes before.

A spokeswoman for the firm Arim, which manges the flats, said: “We continue to manage the development.”